Friday, 24 April 2009

The mockingbirds are around again. Not as many, it seems, as last spring. They are nesting and breeding.

The crows (i.e. “gangsta birds”) know this, and with this knowledge they are trying to rob nests. “Not so quick” the mockingbirds say. They call for aid, and are joined by others – a group effort to protect the fledglings.

I watch with delight as the “mosquito” jets drive off the “junker” bombers. “The Battle of Britain” re-enacted!

I walk by the pond. I notice the shallow sandy depressions at the bottom of the pond. They are nests. Fishes – maybe Tilapia or Bass have “fallen in love” and the nests are hives of tiny fish, with an adult hovering above.

Down the road a bit in Osprey I saw a pair of Sandhill Cranes fly over. These magnificent birds mate for life. They usually have but one chick per year. My host told me that this couple has two chicks – chicks which they will guard with their lives.

Tomorrow I will officiate at the wedding of Hung Wei Lee and Erin Elizabeth Brennan. Hung (32) is a Pathologist in two of our local hospitals. Erin (28) is a Registered Nurse at the Children’s Hospital in St. Pete. It has been a joy and delight to “prepare” them for this day.

But the true preparation has been the gift of their parents. Erin and Hung are privileged to have been raised by wise and stable parents.

I doff my hat t’wards these parents. Falling in love is one thing. Staying in love is another. Raising the young is the most difficult. I could not do it.

My dear friends Joe and Dee were here for two days with their children Faith and Ben. Joe and Dee have been married for maybe 17 years. They are wise and loving parents.

The children are totally assured of the never falling love of their parents. And they also know that Mum and Dad have set gracious and loving boundaries for their safety.

So it was a pleasure to have these children in my home.

Faith (almost 13) is quiet and often has her nose buried in a book. She has a ready smile and is entirely at home in adult company. She is a keen follower of "American Idol" a TV show which I have never seen, and about which she had to teach me.

Ben (9) is “all boy”. He is a nonstop talker (a kindred spirit for me!), except when he is working on a project. At my home his project was to build a helicopter from Lego pieces (something I could not do).

He loved to walk with me and Penny. A couple of times I encouraged him to chase some ducks – which he did with the greatest of glee.

Joe, Dee, I and the children ate out in restaurants twice. I got almost teary eyed when they each addressed the server with “please may I have .....” as they named their choice from the menu.

Many adults are not polite enough to address servers with that level of grace.

So this is my confession of awe and admiration for those who fall in love; those who stay in love; and those who are committed in love. (And you know that my awe and admiration embraces all expressions of committed love).

Monday, 20 April 2009

#1. The Pope is a delusional megalomaniac. The use of condoms does not, as he believes, contribute to the spread of AIDS. He is blinkered, ignorant, or wilfully stupid if he believes this.

#2. Bishop Duncan (formerly of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh [USA]) asserts that my beloved Episcopal Church has created a “new religion”. He offers not one shred of evidence to support his views.

He simply asserts this, but his assertion is no more than his opinion.

I know not of one Episcopal Church leader who denies the truth of the Holy Scriptures or of the Creeds

I think that the Bishop lives in an un-parallel world of his own ego and imagination

#3. In a recent NPR radio programme, a spokesman for the Protestant “Liberty University” in Lynchburg, VA, (a creation of a fundamentalist preacher - Jerry Falwell), opposed gay marriages or unions , and the adoption of children by gay/lesbian couples.

He did so on the basis of “think of the children”.

He asserted that the children of gay or lesbian couples would have less than a fair chance in life.

I seem to remember that this used to be said about children of “bi-racial” couples. Many folks would say “I am not opposed to black/white marriages, but I feel badly for the children. They will suffer”.

So far as I know, that assertion has proven to be bull-shit.

And I am not at all convinced that all “straight” marriages, and the resulting progeny, have proven to be the best exemplars of family life.

About Me

I am from a blue collar background in Bristol, England, and was educated in the days of the 11+ system.
I am one of nine children. My eight siblings live in England.
After school I was first a banker; then a seminarian; then an Episcopal Priest.
I trained for ordained ministry at St. John's College, Nottingham, U.K; and the University of Nottingham from which I was graduated with the degree Bachelor in Theology.
I had 30 years of parish ministry in Massachusetts. (Fitchburg, Chicopee, Pittsfield and Cambridge).
Now retired, I live in Sarasota, FL.
My mantra: - "There is no secular world".